Composting And Mulching Fall Leaves

Autumn brings with it brisk cool weather and the vibrant color of Fall foliage. Eventually this foliage falls to the ground and must be raked and properly disposed of or utilized. Though many people opt to burn or throw away leaves that accumulate on the ground during the Fall, leaves can be utilized in more productive ways as material for mulch and compost.

Both mulch and compost are excellent materials for gardens. Leaf compost is one of the most desired types of soil amendment. This valuable material can be had for free when fallen leaves are turned into compost.

Turning leaves into compost is really quite simple and involves the following steps:

1. Add Leaves to a compost pile. Use a rake to gather the leaves into a central location so that the composting process can begin.
2. Stir the compost pile often. The compost pile should be turned even during the cold months of winter to ensure that the compost decomposes properly.
3. Keep the compost pile moist because it accelerates decomposition. Watering the compost insures that it will deteriorate in the manner that makes it most beneficial to a lawn.

Once the aforementioned steps are taken the compost will develop into a material that is rich in nutrients and perfect for gardening in the spring. This compost will provide plants with all the nutrients needed for healthy growth. The compost can also be used to make compost tea which simply involves steeping the compost in water to create a nutrient rich liquid that can then be used to water the flowers and vegetables. Additionally, this type of organic compost is environmentally friendly and sustainable. Compost provides an alternative to using chemical laden fertilizers that often do harm to the environment.

Leaf compost can also be used as mulch. Mulch is an important component in gardening because it allows the ground to remain moist without the constant need for watering. The retained moisture allows plants to grow at a consistent rate. Mulch is also beneficial because it assists in keeping weeds at bay. Weeds steal nutrients from other plants and as such reducing the amount of weeds in a garden facilitates plant growth. Mulch can also be used to beautify the landscape of a home or building.

Whether the leaf compost is used as mulch or as a means to add nutrients to the soil, composting is an inexpensive and environmentally sound way to rid a yard of leaves. The compost is free of chemicals and can be used to fertilize plants in the spring. Using the aforementioned steps leaf compost can be made inexpensively and instructions on how to create the compost is readily available.

Indeed, anyone wondering what to do with all their fallen leaves this fall should consider creating leaf compost. This is a better alternative to burning or putting the leaves in plastic bags to languish in landfills. Leaf composting ensures that the leaves are removed from the lawn by cultivating the leaves into a plant sustaining material.